Christmas Away From Home

By Suparna Chakaraborthy

Wednesday, December 22, 2010, 10:18

This time of the year is special - not just because a new year is setting in after a fruitful year but because Christmas is at hand. Everyone pulls out warm cloths to beat the chilly breeze that blows gently from dusk till dawn but Christmas spirit makes every heart warm. And people staying out of town come home to celebrate this festival of love with their loved ones. Sadly, there are many for whom Christmas is away from home.

Some are going to miss home this Christmas due to studies while others for office work but that"s not going to hamper the Christmas spirit of the festive season. In fact, they are planning to celebrate it in a meaningful way with friends.

“Every Christmas comes with a different set of blessings for me. I know I"ll be blessed this year too. Though this is the third time I"m going to celebrate without my near and dear ones back home, I"m sure it will be yet another memorable one here in Bangalore. I"m looking forward to enjoy this Christmas with my friends, not forgetting the blessings of God," said Veilou Paotei from Manipur, who is doing III B.A from St.Joseph"s College, Bangalore.

Preeti Roveinai Ngade, who is doing B.Sc. Nursing in Delhi, has to celebrate Christmas away from home due to her studies but she is looking forward to have fun with friends. “My heart longs for my home and cold Purul winter. I"ll be missing happy faces of children and my parents again. All I can do in Delhi"s cold winter is to fill the void of a Christmas away from home by celebrating with my fellow community here and put the biggest smile on Christmas."

Kabi Nyori from Arunachal Pradesh, a III B.A student from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, is expecting a memorable Xmas this year. “Christmas has always brought a smile on my face and this Xmas won"t be any different. Unlike last year, I won"t be home but I"m going to celebrate the Christmas spirit with friends here in Bangalore," she said.

Ng. Bunii Taishya from Manipur is doing something different this Christmas. He is going all the way from Vellore to Bangalore to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with his friends. “Christmas songs remind me of the chill and foggy dawn of my home town Purul. Here in Vellore, I can only recall the happy times I had at home. This Christmas, I"m going to join my friends in Bangalore and celebrate it in a meaningful way," he said.

Sadly, there are few who miss the Christmas spirit due to exams. “I"m going to celebrate Christmas with my friends on 26th because we have exams on 25th. I"m going to miss home and I know my family and friends at home will miss me too," said Raile Rocky, who is doing MA in Development Studies from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai.

Some may celebrate Christmas away from home while others are with their loved ones but nobody misses the blessings of God. There is no better way to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ than to spread love and share Christmas joy to fellow brethren. Make your Christmas a blessing!